Burglar-alarm



(No Model.)

I. BEX. BURGLAR} ALARM.

Patented Aug. 20. I895.

NlTED STATES PATENT Genres,

FREDERICK BEX, OF BRIGHTWOOD, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BURGLAR-ALARIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,008, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed December 20, 1894. Serial Nb. 532,424. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BEX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brightwood, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Alarms for Doors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert'ains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of bur glar-alarms which is adapted to be attached to the inner side ofdcors and similar structores and connected with the knobs thereof, the operating-alarm mechanism being concealed from view in a lock-casing seated within a mortise in the free end of the door and adjacent to and communicating with a bellalarm mechanism or clockwork through the medium of a smaller mortise, communicating with the one above mentioned in the doorand a slot formed in a stationary plate, anda longitudinally-adjustable smaller plate constituting the bottom of the bell-base, the bell mechanism being also concealed or inclosed within the bell.

The object of the invention is to improve, simplify, and cheapen the construction of this class of articles or devices and at the same time produce a device which can be readily, conveniently, and expeditiously adjusted or set to ring at any time by connecting the bell mechanism with the lock -alarm operating mechanism and disengage therefrom where it is not required to ring the bell, and the several parts of the device can be quickly attached and detached from doors and other like structures to which it is adapted.

With these ends in view the invention con sists in thenovel construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more in detail described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is had and which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line at a: of Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4: are detail views thereof.

Similar letters of. referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a door swung upon its hinges in the usual manner, in the free end of which a mortise a is formed for the reception of a portion of a lock-casing.

Bdesignates thelock-casing,whichissnugly seated and firmly held therein. This casing B has formed in its end, centrally of the lockcasing, a hole I), which is aligned with and communicates from mortise a to another and smaller mortise e in juxtaposition thereto, through which is projected the free end of a tripping bar or lever E. The forward end of this tripping bar or leverE has formed therein an eye e, which is closely fitted over the free end of a lug e formed upon the lower end of a dog F, secured in the lock-casing. The free end of the bar or lever E contacts with the lower end of a depending trigger F, depend ing through a slot- F in the bottom of the bell-base or an adjustable plate and through a slot in a stationary plate to be hereinafter described, and also in the mortise e of the door. 7 This depending trigger is pivotally secured inthe forward part of abell-base E',as at c and its upper portion from this point is projected upwardly through a slote", formed therein and normally rests against the tappetarm e of the escapement of the train of clockgearing.

Gdesignates a latch,the rear end of which has formed in it an eye g, through which the lug e is passed, and is interposed between the bar or lever E and lower end of the dog F, the free end of this latch being directed in an opposite direction to that of the tripping bar or lever E, and having formed upon said free end a catch H, which fitsin a mortise formed in the door-frame for latching the door.

I designates a knob-spindle, having knobs I and I securedupon each end thereof, and which is passed through holes in the door and lock, and a thimble or sleeve having a short tappet i and long tappet t" formed thereon, by means of which and a flat spring i con necting the upper end of the dog F with lugs j j, formed upon or secured in the upper portion of the lock-casing, the lock-alarm mechanism is operated upon turning the knob, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and int the drawings. A lug is secured to the inner side and near the corner of the lock-casing, the free end thereof depending within a semicircular opening or depression formed in the upper part of the dog, which serves as a pivot or bearing upon which the dog acts, the dog being held loosely in place by the spring above it and the latch and lever which are pivotally secured to the lower end of said dog. By turning the knobs to the right the free end of the tappet 2' forces the dog as a whole to the right till the upper end of the same engages the fixed lug in the casing. The lower end is now still farther forced to the right, carrying the lever E, which actuates as before, or as when the knob is turned, in the other direction. If preferred, the latch and lever, which are separately pivoted to the lower end of the dog, as shown in the drawings, may be made integral, by which the same functions will be accomplished.

K designates a stationary rectangular plate, which is rigidly secured to the door by means of screws or other suitable fastening means, and having alongitudinal slot is, formed centrally in its forward end and extending about half the distance of the length of the plate, and at its rear end are formed longitudinal slots 10 70 each of which are about onethird the length of the former slot 70, through and within which the trigger F plays freely, as well as through the bell-base, when the bar or lever E contacts therewith by turning the knobs and operating the lock-alarm mechanism. The slots 7070 in the rear end of the plate K serve the purpose of engaging flanges L L, which form a part of or are integral with an adjustable plate M or bottom of the bell-base and which are struck downwardly from the body of said plate, whereby the adjustable plate M, carrying the bell mechanism, is freely adjustable longitudinally in grooves m m in the sides of the stationary plate formed by flanges m m, struck upwardly and over the body of the plate to make connection with or disconnection from the lock-operating mechanism. The slotk formed between the slots 70 k in the rear end of the stationary plate K, is somewhat narrower than the slots 70 k and it has an eye in its forward end for the reception of the free end of a hooked rod 10 which serves as a stop for the bell-base carrying the bell mechanism, and holds the same in its operative position when set for connection with the lock-alarm mechanism. When it is necessary to disconnect the bell mechanism from the latter, the hooked or free end of this rod is pressed downwardly in the slot 70 and then the adjustable plate M can be adjusted rearwardly over the hooked rod and. stationary plate K, when it will assume its normal position.

E designates the bell-base, in which is located the motor, the same consisting of a flat coiled spring secured therein in the usual manner of securing them in clocks of this character, and in the forward part of said bell-base is formeda slot 6 which is in alignment with the slot in the bottom of the bellbase or adjustable plate M and the slot in the stationary plate K, hereinbefore described. The bell-base is secured to the forward end of the adjustable plate by means of a screw, and securely mounted upon the upper surface thereof is the usual and well-known train of clock mechanism, which is normally inclosed therein by means of the bell screwed upon the free end of the arbor, which can be attached to and detached from the arbor at pleasure.

Preparatory to setting the alarm the motor or spring is wound up by means of the gong, when the slightest turn of the knobs in either direction sounds the alarm.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of my device will be obvious, but it may be briefly rehearsed as follows: The device having been applied to the inside of the door of the house or room, the occupant before retiring for the night adjusts the bell mechanism so that it will make contact with the lock mechanism, and as the first movement of the burglar may be to turn the knob of the lock to discover whether the door is locked or"not, and as soon as he attempts to turn the knob the bell mechanism is operated and the alarm is sounded, which will apprise the occupants of the presence of an unauthorized party, and he acts accordingly. hen the setting of the alarm is unnecessary, the occupant simply makes disconnection of the bell mechanism from the lock mechanism by adjusting the same in an opposite direction from that in which it is set, and it assumes its normal position upon the door and relatively to the lock mechanism.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burglar alarm, the door having a large mortise formed therein, in which is seated the lock-casing a knob-spindle passing therethrough carrying a dog a latch having a catch formed on its free end pivoted or fitted on the lug formed on the lower end of a dog, a lever pivoted or fitted on the free end of said lug, the free end of the lever being passed through a hole in the mortise and lock casing and projecting into a smaller mortise formed in juxtaposition thereto, the free end of which is directed opposite to that of the free end of the latch and contacting with the lower end of a depending alarm mechanism trigger pivotally secured to and in the base of the bell substantially as. described.

2. In a burglar alarm, the combination with the door having a large mortise with a lockcasing therein communicating with asmaller mortise through the medium of a hole or passage-way both in the large mortise and lock-casing, the rear end of the latch pivoted or fitted on a lug on the lower end of a dog, the forward end of a lever pivoted or fitted on the free end of said lug, the free end of which is directed opposite to that of the free end of the latch; of the spindle thimble having tappets formed thereon, the dog, and the spring secured to the lock casing and connecting with the dog for actuating the latch and spindle lever causing the latter to contact with the alarm mechanism trigger substantially as described. v

3. In a burglar alarm the combination with the door having a large mortise with a lockcasing therein communicating through the medium of a hole or passage-way both in the large mortise and lock-casing with a smaller mortise; the rear end of the latch pivoted or fitted on a lug on the lower end of a dog, the forward end of alever pivoted or fitted on the free end of saidlug, the free end of which is directed opposite to that of the free end of the latch thespindle thimblehaving tappets formed thereon, the dog, a spring secured to the lock-casing and connecting with the dog for actuating the latch and spindle lever; of the alarm mechanism trigger pivotally .secured to and in the base of the bell and contacting with the lever substantially as described.

4. In a burglar alarm, the combination with the door having a large mortise with a lockcasing therein communicating through the medium of a hole or passage-way, both in the large mortise and lock-casing with a smaller mortise; the rear end of the latch pivoted or fitted on a lug on the lower end of a dog, the forward end of a lever pivoted or fitted on the free end of said lug, the free end of which is directed opposite to that of the free end of the latch, the spindle thimble having tappets formed thereon, the dog, a spring secured to the lock-casing and connecting with the dog for actuating the latchand spindle lever; of the stationary and adjustable plates, the former having a long longitudinal slot therein and the latter having a shorter slot therein located above the longer slot in the forward end of the plates through which a depending mechanism trigger is passed and freely plays and is actuated by the aforesaid lever, longitudinal slots formed in the rear end of the stationary plate which engage depending or downwardly struck flanges on the adjustable plate, intermediate narrower slot, a hook or stop having one end secured to the door and the free end engaging the said slot substantially as described.

5. In a burglar alarm, a stationary plate securedto the door by screws or similar means, a longitudinal slot formed in its forward end extending midway the length of the plate, grooves or ways formed in the sides or edges of the plate by means of flanges struck up from the body thereof, longitudinal slots formed in the plate near the ways or edges for engagement with the downwardly struck flanges from the body and rear end of an adjustable plate carrying the bell-base, its mechanism and bell, said plate being movably secured in the ways of the stationary plate and a longitudinal slot formed in the forward end of the adjustable plate and registering with the longitudinal slot formed in the forward end of the stationary plate through which the trigger pivotally secured in the bell-base depends and plays, a narrower slot formed intermediate of the slots formed in the rear end near the edges or Ways of the stationary plate for the reception of the stop or hook secured. to the door, all substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK BEX.

Witnesses:

N. CURTIS LAMMOND, D. G. STUART. 

